Vacuum cleaner



Nov. 23, 1943. c. E. STEVENS VACUUM CLEANER Filed March 1:5, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet l Patented Nov. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUMCLEANER Clarence Everett Stevens, Greenwich, Conn., al-

signor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, DeL. a corporation of DelawareApplication March 13, 1941, Serial No. ssaosz 6Claims. (oLzzo-st)My-invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to vacuumcleaners of the enclosed bag type. J

This type of cleaner includes .a hollow casing within which is disposeda dust bag and a motorfan unit. The casing is formed with an openingmember so as to clamp it in place; A central portion of the ball, whichextends'beyond the closure member, is formed as a handle. Inasmuch asthe bail serves both to retain the closure member in place and as ahandle, it is necessary to provide positive locking means for holding itin contact with the closure member, as otherwise the force applied tothe handle portion of the bail for lifting the cleaner would disengagethe ball from the closure member. In accordance with my invention, '1preferably provide one or more spring-pressed latch members for lockingthe bail. While a single latch member may be suflicient for thispurpose, two might be preferable so as to avoid the possibility of thebail becoming released in the event that one latch member isaccidentally disengaged. The likelihood of both latch members beingaccidentally released at the same time is not greats.

-My invention has the advantages of providing for easy and quick removaland replacing oi the closure member, while at the same time providing aconvenient handle for carrying the vacuum cleaner.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, which form apart of this specification, and of which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner including one embodiment oi'myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of a portion of the vacuum cleaner showninFlg; 1;

F18. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of F18. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4- of Fig. 2; v

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-4 ofFig.2;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken onthe line 6-6 of Fig; 1;

Fig. '7 is a side view of a portion of a vacuum cleaner includinganother embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a top view of the portion of the cleaner shownin Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is aside view of a complete vacuum cleaner shown in a verticalposition.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 through 6, reference characterIll designates a hollow casing which is provided with runners or thelike I l for supporting it horizontally upon a horizontal surface.Suitably mounted within the casing ii in well known manner is amotor-fan unit and a dust bag. The construction of the dust bag is thesame in both embodiments and the parts thereof which are pertinent to myinvention are shown in detail in Fig. 9. As .here illustrated, the dustbag I: is formed with an open mouth which is secured to an annularflangeii of a dust bag ring H. The ring also includes a radial flange [5 whichcarries a gasket iii of rubber or other suitable material. The left-handend of the casing Ill, as viewed in either Fig. 1 or Fig. 9, is open andhas secured thereto a ring I! which forms a seat against which thegasket it of the dust bag ring is adapted to be clamped by a closuremember for the opening. This closure member is designated generally byreference character i8 in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 through6 and by reference character It in the second embodiment. In either casethe closure member includes an inlet opening I 9 to which may beconnected a hose or the like 28, the

opposite end of which is connected to a suction nozzle 204.

In the first embodiment the closure member i8 is shown as a casting. Atdiametrically opposite points the casting is formed with a'substantiallyflat surface 2|, the upper edge of which is rounded or beveled, as isshown at 22 in Fig. 4.

Pivotally secured to opposite sides of the casing i0 is a generallyU-shaped bail 23. -As shown' bail includes a pair of substantiallyparallel por tions 21 which, when the bail is in the cover closingposition shown in Fig. 1, appear as ex-- tensions of channel member 28secured to either side of the casing. The portions 21 are joinedtogether at one end by means of a handle portion 29.

Adjacent to the juncture of the handle portion and the straight portion21, the bail 23 is formed with substantially flat surfaces 30, the loweredges of which are rounded or beveled, as'is shown at 3| in Fig. 4. Thesurfaces 30 are so positioned on the bail as to engage the flat surfaces2| on the closure member when the bail is pivoted in a counterclockwisedirection to the position shown in Fig. 1, and to clamp the closuremember tightly against the gasket l6 of the dust bag ring. Immediatelyabove the surfaces 30, the ball is formed with projecting lugs 32 whichstrike surfaces 33 formed on the closure member to thus limit pivotalmovement of the bail in a counterclockwise direction. v a

The closure member [8 is formed with recesses 34 which are located insurfaces 35 disposed radially inwardly from and to the left of thesurfaces 2|, as viewed in Fig. 2, these recesses being shown moreparticularly in Fig. 3. The bail 23 is formed received within therecesses 34 formed in the cover member. This projecting portion'isprovided with an inclined surface 40. A spring 4| having a forked end 42pivoted on the pin 38 is disposed between the latch member 31 and asurface 43 formed on the bail and acts to pivot the latch member in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, so as to engage the projectingportion 39 within the recess 34. The upper end of the latch memberextends through the slot 36 so that it may be pressed by the operator'sfinger to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, so as to retract the projectingportion 39 from the recess 34.

The operation of the above-described device is as follows: r

With the parts in the position shown in the figures, the surfaces 30 onthe bail press against the surfaces 2| on the cover member'so as toforce the cover member against the gasket IS on the dust bag ring, toclamp the gasket against the ring H of the'casing. The engagement of theprojecting portions 39 on the latch members 31 within the recesses 34,where they are retained by the springs 4|, locks the bail in thisposition. Consequently, the handle portion 29 may be grasped and thevacuum cleaner picked up thereby without any danger of releasing theball from engagement with the closure'member. Even should the operatoraccidentally contact one of the latch members 31 so as to release it,the bail would still be retained in place by the other latch member, andit is very unlikely that both latch members would be accidentallycontacted at the same time.

When it is desired to remove the closure memher, the latch members 31are simultaneously pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, as viewedtion, as viewed in Fig. 1, about the pins 24 so as to disengage thesurfaces 30 on the ball from the surfaces 2i on the closure member.Thereafter, the closure member may be removed and the dust bag taken outfor the purpose of emptying it.

In order to replace the parts, the dust bag is inserted through the openend of the casing and the closure member put in place. The ball is thenpivoted in a-counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. Thebeveled surfaces 3! on the bail will first strike the similar surfaces22 on the closure member and will force the closure member tightlyagainst the gasket l6. Further pivoting of the bail brings the flatsurfaces 39 into contact with the fiat surfaces 2 At the same time, theinclined surfaces 40 on the projecting portions 39 of the latch members31 contact the upper edges of the surfaces 35 on the cover, and

recesses by the springs 4|. V

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 7

through 10, the bail is again designated generally by referencecharacter 23 and includes side portions 21, which are pivoted at one endto the casing lil by means of pins 24, and which are connected togetherat their other ends by means of the handle portion 29.

The cover member l8 includes an inner plate to which is seemed an outershell 5E. The plate and shell are formed with aligned apertures foraccommodating the inlet port i9. Secured to the outer surface of shellI5 is a strip of metal 52 which extends upwardly from the center of thecover member to the periphery thereof. The upper end of the strip 52 isformed as a knob or hook 53 which is adapted to be received within arecess'54 formed in a channel member 55 carried by the top of thecleaner. This hook serves to retain the closure member it in position,even when it is not locked in place by the ball.

The strip 52 is formed with an opening 56 therethrough and behind thisopening the shell 5E is shaped'to form a recess having a shallow portion51 and a deep portion 58. A latch member 59 is disposed within theshallow portion and a spring 69 is retained in the deep portion andtends to force the lower enlarged end of the latch 59 outwardly throughthe opening 55.

Secured to the handle portion 29, as by bolts GI, is a leaf spring 62which is bowed away fromthe handle portion and towards the closuremember, the dimensions of the parts being such that the center of theleaf spring bears against the center of the closure member withsufiicien force to hold the latter in place.

With the parts in the positions illustrated in the figures, the leafspring 62 is locked in position by means of the latch member 59, thelower edge of whichfengages the upper edge of the spring. Consequently,the handle 29 may be grasped to lift the cleaner without there beingdanger of releasing the ball from contact with the closure member.However, when it is desired to remove the closure member, the latchmember 59 is pressed inwardly by the finger, against the force of spring69, until it is flush with the strip 52, whereupon the bail may bepivoted upwardly so as to remove the leaf spring from corntact with theclosure member. The closure member is still retained in place by meansof the hook 53 engaging the recess 54, but it may be grasped and removedfrom the casing l0.

In order to replace the parts, the hook 53 is engaged with the recess 54so as tohold the closure member in position, and the bail is pivoteddownwardly. The outer surface of the strip 52 is substantially arcuateand has aradius of curvature less than the radial distance between theaxis of the pivot pins 24 and the central point of spring 62.Consequently, as the bail is pivoted downwardly towards closingposition, the spring strikes the strip near the upper part of the latterand slides therealong, which causes the spring 62 to be distorted andhence to exert force against the closure member. Due to the curvature ofthe outer surface of the latch member, the leaf spring is able to passthereover by forcing the latchmember inwardly. As soon as the spring hascleared the latch member, the latter snaps back under the influence ofthe spring 60 to lock the leaf spring, and hence the bail, in position.

While I have shown two more or less specific embodiments of myinvention, it is to be under stood that this has been done for purposesof illustration only, and the scope of my invention is not to be limitedthereto, but is to be determined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, ahollow casing formed with an opening, aremovable closure member for said opening, a bail pivotally secured tosaid casing and having a portion disposed so as to engage said closuremember to retain the latter in closing position, said bail having aportion forming a handle for lifting said vacuum cleaner, and aspring-pressed latching member operative independently of force appliedto said ball for releasably locking said bail against pivotal movementand in engagement with said closure member with the handle portion inoperative position.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing formed with an opening, aremovable closure member for said opening, a bail pivotally secured tosaid casing and having a portion disposed so as to engage said closuremember to retain the latter in closing position, said ball having aportion form-' ing a handlefor lifting said vacuum cleaner, and aspring-pressed latch member carried by said bail and engageable with arecess formed in said cover member and operative independently of forceapplied to the bail for releasably locking said ball against pivotalmovement and in engagement with said closure member with the handleportion in operative position.

' 3. Ina vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing formed with a substantiallycircular opening, a removable closure member for said opening, aresilient packing between said casing and said member, a bail pivotallysecured to said casing and having surfaces formed thereon and positionedso as to engage diametrically opposed surfaces formed on said closureadjacent to the periphery thereof to thereby compress said packing, saidbail having a central portion forming a handle for lifting said vacuumcleaner, and spring-pressed latch members carried by said bail adjacentto either end of said handle portion and operative independently offorce applied to the bail to releasably engage with recesses formed insaid cover member for locking 'said bail against pivotal movement and inengagement with said closure member with the handle portion in operativeposition.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing formed with an opening, aremovable closure member for said opening, a bail pivotally secured tosaid casing and having a resilient portion disposed so as to engage saidclosure member to retain the latter in closing position, said bailhaving a portion forming a handle for lifting said vacuum cleaner, and aspring pressed latch member carried by said closure member andengageable with said ball for releasably locking said bail in engagementwith said closure-member.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing formed with an opening, aremovable closure member for said opening, a bail pivotally secured tosaid casing, said bail having a portion forming a handle for liftingsaid vacuum cleaner, said ball including a leaf spring bowed from saidhandle portion toward said casing for engaging said closure member toretain the latter in closing position, and a spring-pressed latch membercarried by said closure member and engageable with said spring forreleasably locking the latter in en gagement with said closure member.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing formed with an opening, aremovable closure member for said opening having an outer arcuate surface, a bail pivotally secured to said casing and having a resilientportion disposed so as to engage said surface, the radial distance ofsaid resilient portion from the pivotal axis being greater than theradius of curvature of said arcuate surface, said bail having a portionproviding a. handle for lifting said vacuum cleaner, and means CLARENCEEVERETT STEVENS.

